Cincinnati at Houston Betting Tips: Picks & Odds

Once upon a time, the Cincinnati Bearcats were a perennial NCAA Tournament team and often ranked in the Top 10.

The glory began with Bob Huggins, who led the Bearcats to the Big Dance every year from 1992 through 2005. Huggins took the Bearcats to one Final Four, two Elite Eights, and a Sweet 16.

Mick Cronin took UC to the Big Dance every season from 2011 through 2019 and produced a Sweet 16 during his tenure.

Since Cronin departed for UCLA after the 2019 NCAA Tournament, the Bearcats have not returned. And its prospects are not good for this year.

On Saturday, Cincinnati will travel to Houston to face the 10th-ranked Cougars.

Head coach Kelvin Sampson has put Houston in the Big Dance for the past five years with two Final Fours (With a 2025 national championship game appearance), one Elite Eight, and two Sweet Sixteen appearances.

Anytime Houston plays, especially on FOX, viewership and NCAA basketball betting action will be elevated.

Cincinnati at Houston Preview

On Saturday, January 31, 2026, the Houston Cougars will host the Cincinnati Bearcats at the Fertitta Center in Houston, TX. Tipoff time is Noon ET with television coverage on FOX.

Public Betting Odds Factors

• The Bearcats are a difficult sell as a struggling team that is no longer nationally relevant.

• Cincinnati can only draw consideration from bargain hunters and contrarian bettors looking for an enhanced price against a power brand.

• Houston could be overpriced in a matchup that they should dominate. But will that matter?

Cincinnati at Houston Predictions

Handicapping Factors to Consider 

• Houston has provided good recent value at home

• The Cougars dominate their series with the Bearcats.

• Cincinnati has been a poor value against the NCAA basketball spread on the road this season.

• Houston is the vastly more talented, deeper, and fundamentally sound program.

Cincinnati at Houston Prime Best Bet: Houston Cougars 

Cincinnati at Houston Betting Tips

Cincinnati Bearcats 

• Cincinnati has national metrics of 237^th for scoring offense, 317^th for field goal percentage, 340^th for 3-point field goal percentage, 354^th for free throw percentage, and 51^st for offensive rebounding.

• On defense, the Bearcats have national metrics of 76^th for scoring defense, 59^th  for field goal percentage permitted, 152^nd for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 258^th for defensive rebounding.

• The Cincinnati Bearcats are 10-10 straight up, 8-12 against the spread, and 6-14 over/under the total.

• Cincy has covered three out of their last seven games.

• The Bearcats have gone under the total in seven of their previous ten matchups.

Houston Cougars 

• Houston has national metrics of 175^th for scoring offense, 196^th for field goal percentage, 163^rd for 3-point field goal percentage, 42^nd for free throw percentage, and 194th for offensive rebounding.

• On defense, the Cougars have national metrics of 2^nd for scoring defense, 23^rd for field goal percentage permitted, 80^th for 3-point field goal percentage allowed, and 41^st for defensive rebounding.

• The Houston Cougars are 17-2 straight up, 10-9 against the spread, and 9-10 over/under the total.  Houston has covered in seven of its last 10 games.

• The Cougars have gone under the total in five of its previous seven matchups.

Cincinnati at Houston Head-to-Head and Key Stats

• Houston has dominated the payout window against Cincinnati with 14 payouts in the last 19 meetings.

• The Cougars and Bearcats went over the total in six of their last 19 meetings.

• At Houston, the Cougars got the cash in five of their last eight games against the Bearcats.

• The Bearcats and Cougars went under the total in nine of their last 12 games at Houston.

• Cincinnati covered the spread in only five of its last 16 road games.

• The Bearcats went over the total in four of their last seven away tilts.

• Houston has cashed in six of its last eight home games.

• Houston went under the total in eight of their last 11 home tilts.